Safety stopper for containers



y 1957 G. KLEWER 2,800,239

SAFETY STOPPER FOR CONTAINERS 3 vSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1955Inventor: 622178118!" K/e we 46 fiorlzeys July 23, 1957 G. KLEWER SAFETYSTOPPER FOR CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1955 y 3, 1957 G.KLEWER 2,800,239

SAFETY STOPPERFOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 20, 1955 :5 Sheets-She e t sGd/whek Mewer w dw United States Patent SAFETY STOPPER FOR CONTAINERSGiinther'Klewer, Berlin, Germany Application January 20, 1955, SerialNo. 483,105 Claims priority, application Germany January 27, 1954 i 12Claims. (Cl. 215-14 This invention relates to a safety stopper forclosing containers of liquids, such as bottles, and refers moreparticularly to a stopper which permits a repeated opening, pouring andclosing as long as there is any of the original contents in the bottle,and which virtually renders impossible, or at least most difficult, are-filling of the bottle after it has been emptied completely.

An object of the present invention is to improve prior art constructionsand to provide a device which will render impossible the unauthorizedre-filling of low-quality products into original high-quality trademarked bottles, and which can be produced at substantially the same costand with the same convenience as normal corks.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following specification.

According to the invention, the safety stopper includes a metal tubewith an outer cork mantle and an inner plastic mantle which forms onepiece with a head-like upper part that closed the upper end of the tube..The metal tube is connected with the upper part by means of tenon-likeprojections. A disjunctive disc between the cork mantle and the upperpart supplies a crack link which disconnects the two parts uponextraction from the bottle and which thus makes impossible any re-use ofthe severed stopper. Therefore, the purchaser can be assured that thebottle has its original contents so long as the stopper remainsunbroken.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the'drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a safetystopper according to the invention; and Figure la shows a transversesectional view of the frangible area;

Figure 2 shows partly in section and partly in front view the base ofthe stopper of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side-viewof the stopper of Fig. '1, partly in section; a IFigure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified type ,of stopperaccording to the invention; I

I Figure 5 shows thebase of stopper shown in Figure 4, and is a sectionalong the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 shows the stopper of Fig. 4.in cross section;

Figure 7 is a,longitudinal section of another modified type of stopperaccording to the invention; 7 i Figure 8 is a section along the line 88of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a section along the line99 of Fig. 7;

Figure 10 is a side view of the stopper shown in Fig. 7;

Figure "11 is a front view of the baseof the stopper of Fig.10;

Figure '12 is another view of the stopper of Fig. 10;

Figure 13 shows the upper part of the connecting tube between the corkmantle and the upper part of the stopper; a Figure 14 shows thedisjunctive disc between the'upper-part and the cork mantle;

- Figure 14a is a detail sectional view;

' Figure 15 is a section along the line 15-15 -of Fig. 7;

2,800,239 Patented July 23, 1957 Figure 16 is a section along the line16-16 of Fig. 10;

Figure 17 is a section along the line 17-17 of Fig. 7; and

Figure 18 shows the plug for the upper part of the, stopper.

The stopper shown in the drawings includes a tube 1, which is made ofthin sheet-metal and bordered at its lower end; a cork mantle 2 ispressed around the tube 1. As is the procedure with normal spout-corks,the cork 2 is pressed into a bottle-neck by the usual tools, and itsouter diameter and length are such that it fits like a normal cork andcloses the bottle neck absolutely air-tightly. The upper part 3 of thestopper (Fig. l) resembles a spout in shape and juts out of the bottleneck; it is made of a plastic which is chemically compatible with thecontents of the bottle and, is arranged around tube 1 by casting orpressing in such manner that the interior of the latter is entirelycoated with a plastic mantle 3a which, at 4, extends outwardly to forman appropriate inlet for the contents of the bottle.

As shown in Fig. 13, the upper end of the metal tube 1 has a number ofprojections or tenons 5 which engage corresponding mortises or recesses6 in a disc 7. The diameter of the recesses 6 corresponds to the outerdiameter of the tube 1; the inner diameter of the disc 7 corresponds tothat of the plastic mantle 3a which is cast or pressed into the tube 1.The inner diameter of the tube 1 is greater than the inner diameter ofthe disc 7 to the extent of the wall thickness of the plastic mantle 3a.The disc 7 thus divides the plastic mantle 3a and separates the corkmantle 2 from the upper part 3 of the stopper. Consequently the plasticmantle 3a and the upper part 3 are only lightly connected in thoseplaces where the projections 5 of the tube 1 extends through therecesses 6 of the disc 7 and, due to the size of the above diameters,permit the passage of the plastic material during the casting orpressing operation. Thus the zone of disc 7 forms a section unprotectedagainst pulling or bending, and makes it impossible by pulling orbending the upper part 3 to safely remove the cork mantle 2 from itsfirm position in the bottle-neck. By providing an appropriate number ofprojections 5 and an appropriate size of the various diameters, thenecessary sectional area of the plastic mantle can be formed in thisplace in such manner that less force will tear the upper part 3 from theplastic mantle 3a, i. e. from the lower part of the bottle-neck, thanwould be needed for removing the cork from the bottle-neck.

Thus any bottle can be closed safely with the described safety stopper.When the original contents are consumed and it is desired to use thebottle for other purposes, the safety stopper will be destroyed while itis being removed from the bottle, so that it cannot be used for a secondtime. Thus as long as the safety stopper remains undamaged the user canbe assured that the contents of the bottle consists of the originalfilling. In order to protect this device against unintentional lateraljolting or pushing, the projections 5 of tube 1 extend some way into theplastic upper part 3 without being fixed thereto. Upon pulling orbending, however, they will be disconnected immediately.

For repeated pouring, the upper part 3 of the safety stopper is providedwith a nozzle-like spout 8, similar to a normal spout-cork (Fig. 1). Inorder to prevent, or at least render most dilficult, the unauthorizedre-filling of the contents of the bottle, the spout-bore 9 must bespecially devised and can have only an indirect connection with theinlet 4.

To achieve this end, several modifications can be provided, which willbe described hereinafter:

The construction according to Figs. 1 to 3 has a spoutbore 9 whichextends vertically to the bottle-neck. The

slot 10 (Figs. 1 and 2 formed asv the result oiiv the gradual variationof the inlet 4, encloses the spout-bore 9 from below, and forms a partof its transverse section; thus the contents of the bottle can'flow intothe spout while air for the re-adjustment. of the pressure flows intothe bottle through the air-hole 11. For reasons of manufacturing and inorder to provide better closing, the spout-bore 9 is of pronouncedconical form.

t A person attempting to re-fill the bottle through the safety stopperwill try to pour a liquid back into the bottle through the spout 12 andthe slot 10. In order to prevent this,- the spout-bore 9 extendstransversely through the stopper, and at its end is the outlet 13 in therear nozzle 14. If the bottle is tilted, liquid filled in through thespout 12 will forv the greater part flow out through the outlet 13;liquid poured through the outlet 13 will pass out through the spout 12while, due to cohesive power, only small quantities will find their wayinto the bottle through the narrow slot 10 or through the little airhole11.

However, a person could attempt to close one of the outlets 12 and 13,then tilt. the bottle and, while simultaneously pouring in the liquidfrom the open side, to slowly let the liquid rise in the spout-bore 9and cause it to find its way into the bottle through either the slot 10or the air-hole 11. By an appropriate design it is possible to prevent,or at least render most difficult the closing of the outlets 12 and 13.These design features are as follows:

The outlets 12 and 13 are conical with a star-like crosssection (Fig.15) and have different angles between the inner and outer mantle lines,so that the connection with the likewise conical spout-bore 9 does nottake place along a circular line which can easily be plugged but extendssome way upon the mantle, as indicated at 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. Since thestar-like'outlets 12 and 13 join the spout-bore 9 along curved surfaces,all the crosssections with their star-like form are of a difierent sizein this location so that the possibility of plugging the outlet does notexist.

The star-like cross-section of the outlet 8 also prevents the attachmentof a hose thereto (Figs. 3, 12, 16). In this type of stopper, the plugthreads 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) are located in the spout-bore 9 at the mouthof the airpipe 11-. If an attempt is made to plug the threaded openingof the spout-bore 9, then the air-hole 11, too, will be closed and willprevent the adjustment of pressure. Consequently, the liquid will beprevented from entering the bottle.

additional protection against attempts of unauthorized refilling by asyringe or similar instrumentis provided by the modifiedconstructionshown in Figs. 4 to 6.

In this construction, when the bottle is tilted, the con- :t'ehts" flowthiough the inlet 4, avoid the spout-bore 9, now through the rectangularopening 17 into slot' 18 (Fig's'1 4, and 6) and from there enter thespout-bore '9,- The adjustment of the pressure is efiected through theslot 19 and through the rectangular opening 20. The slots 18 and 19enclose the spout-bore 9 from above; this construction makes itnecessary for the vessel to be held upside down if it is to be re-filledwithout severing the safety stopper by means of a syringe. This method,however, permits only a trifling quantity to be refilled since theliquid can rise only to the location where the slots 18 and 19 enter thespout-bore 9. If the outlets 12 and 13 are of star-like and conicalshape, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be impossible to plug one ofthese openings. Hence the bottle can not be re-filled even in verticalposition of the spout-bore 9 and the horizontal position of the bottle.

r In order to prevent the outlets. 12 or 13 from being closed withadhesive plaster or the like, the walls of the nozzle 14 and of thespout 8 (into which the spoutbore 9 discharges) are provided withsemicircular flutes 21 (Fig. 4). At their bottom they form sharp edgeswhich cannot be closed. by plaster. The stopper type according to Figs.4, 5 and 6 is manufactured in two steps by means of two separate castingor pressing molds.

The contents of the bottle cannot be poured unless a stream of outer airadjusts the pressure in the bottle by passing through a second pipe orthrough the liquid itself. This corelation between the air in the bottleand the outer air may be utilized as a safeguard against unauthorizedre-filling.

A stopper type realizing this idea is shown in Figs. 7 to 12 and 15 to17. Here, the contents can reach the spout only through an angularsystem of pipes.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 to 9 and 17 the liquid enters thechamber-23, through the inlet 4; when the bottle is tilted toward itsupper end the inlet narrows to a semi-circular cross-section, andextends through the bend 22. Both are so inclined toward each other thatthe expanding cross-section narrows to a slot and that a pointed,nose-like edge 24 is formed (Fig. 7).' From chamber 23, the liquidpasses through pipe 25 which is inclined at a suitable angle; from herethe liquid. flows into the spout-bore 9 which receives. from above theslot-- like mouth of tube 25. The adjustment of pressure is effected byair which streams in through the slot 26. Air reaches the chamber 23 atthe edge 27. When the bottle is properly tilted, air enters into thebottle in form of bubbles which pass by the edge 24. Furthermore, theedge 27 is located under the edge 28, which is formed by the pipe- 25and the chamber 23; thus any liquid which drops off the edge 8 will flowinto the slot 26. It is thus apparent that any liquid which has beenintroduced into the pipe 25 by means of a syringe will not get into thebottle but will drop into the slot 26 from where it passes out throughthe outlet 13.

If an attempt is made to re-fill the bottle through the outlet 12 whilethe outlet 13 is closed and the spout-bore 9' is vertical, the liquidwill pass through the slot 26 and will rise to about the height of theedge 24 in the pipe system. The air cushion which forms in the corner ofchain ber 23 cannot escape and will prevent any liquid from enteringinto the bottle.

Onthe other hand, if an attempt is made to close the outlet 12- and tofill the bottle through the outlet 13, the liquid-level can rise in thespout-bore 9, in the pipe-system and in the bottle-neck (which nowpoints upwardly at an angle) only until the outlet 13 overflows. Thusonly a very small quantity of liquid penetrates into the bottle, apartfrom the fact that in this position also the air cushion in the bottleacts as a locking device. This type of stoppenhowev'er, can be producedby means of several casting or pressingrnoul'd's, and only'in severalsuccessive operations.

After each pouring, some liquid in the form of drops necessarily remainsin the spout-bore 9, so that a drip catcher is necessary. While with thetype of stopper according to Figs. 1 to 3 a drop will fall backautomatically "into the bottle through either the slot 10 or theair-hole 11, in accordance with the construction of Fig. 7, the dropwill be caught in the slot 26 which extends downwardly over thespout-bore 9. Similarly, the slot 19 of the construction shown in Fig. 4can be designed as a drip-catcher, if it is provided with a downwardextension.

Fig. 18 shows a threaded conical plug 29 for-closing the spout-bore 9after use. The plug can be made of metal or of a plastic material, andit may be either die cast or pressed simultaneously with the stopper, orif may be formed later. The conical shaft of the plug corresponds to thespout-bore and, at the same time locks all the open *i'ngs. It isimmaterial whether the threaded portion of 'the plug is located near thespout or near the rear outlet.

A handle 29a is used for the insertion of the plug. One end of the plugshown in Fig. 18. can be provided with a hole 30,, through which a cord,seal or other indicia. may

extend. The handle 29 may be suitably shaped to 'serve the same purpose.Furthermore, the end of the plug may the original surface by drillingand the like. That portion of the upper part 3 which is most exposed ispro vided with a shiny ball-like dome on which even small scratches orinjuries will be conspicuous immediately when pouring from the bottle.Other variations and modifications may be carried out also within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is. madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle.

2. A safety stopper for bottlesand the like comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting the bottleneck-fitting portion withthe spout portion and comprising projections integral with said tube andengaging said spout portion, said means constituting a frangible areaalong which the spout portion breaks otf from the bottleneck-fittingportion when an attempt is made to pull the stopper out of the bottle.

3. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube;

and a disc located between said spout portion and saidbottleneck-fitting portion, said disc having an inner diametercorresponding to inner diameter of said coating, said disc furtherhaving groove-like recesses formed upon the inner circumference thereofand having a depth corresponding to the outer diameter of the tube, saidtube comprising projections extending into said'recesses, said coatinghaving ledges also extending into said recesses.

4. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spout portion having formedtherein a conical passage connected with the interior of said tube andterminating in two opposed openings, the portions of said passageadjacent said openings being star-like in crosssectlon.

5. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spout portion having formedtherein a conical passage connected with the interior of said tube andterminating in two opposed openings, the portions of said passageadjacent said openings being star-like in cross-section.

6. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks oif from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of-the bottle, said spout portion having twoopposed nozzles the outer surfaces of which form in cross-section apolygon of at least five sides, said spout portion. further havingformed therein a passage extending between said nozzles andcommunicating with the interior of said tube.

7. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spout portion having twoopposed nozzles the outer surfaces of which extend at angles to eachother, and ribs upon at least some of said outer surfaces, said spoutportion further having formed therein a passage extending between saidnozzles and communicating with the interior of said tube.

8. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spout portion having formedtherein two channels located between the top of the spout portion andthe hollow interior thereof and connecting said hollow interior with theinterior of said tube.

9. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plastic spoutportion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, a corklayer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the inner surfacesof said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating with said spoutportion and constituting a frangible area along which the spout portionbreaks off from the bottleneck-fitting portion when an attempt is madeto pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spout portion having formedtherein a plurality of interconnected passages located upon differentlevels and forming a labyrinth communicating with the interior of saidtube, an edge within said passages to form an air pocket when the bottleis tilted, a chamber within said passages, a slot communicating withsaid chamber, said slot and said chamber forming another edge, one ofsaid passages forming a third edge with said chamber, said other edgebeing located within the drop-forming range of said third edge.

10. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plasticspout portion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, acork layer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the innersurfaces of said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating withsaid spout portionand constituting a frangible area along which thespout portion breaks oif from the bottleneck-fitting portion when anattempt is made to pull the stopper out of the bottle, said spoutportion having formed therein two channels located between the top ofthe spout portion and the hollow interior thereof and connecting saidhollow interior with the interior of said tube, and at least onedownwardly extending air channel communicating with one of thefirst-mentioned channels and serving as a dropcatcher.

11. A safety stopper for bottles and the like, comprising a plasticspout portion, a bottleneck-fitting portion comprising a metal tube, acork layer enclosing said tube, and a plastic coating upon the innersurfaces of said tube; and means connecting said plastic coating withsaid spout fldftidfi am cpfisti'mti'qga frangible area along which the'sp ilt'fibrtififl bi lfsfifi irqmthe bqflenecbfitting pcg i w eii afi attcmpt made to pull th sto'ppcr out (if the Battle, saidspcsfit pc'rticn having formed therein a conical passage bdiifiiitd with theinterior ofsaid tube and terminati ig i'n'twoppposed op iings, saidconical passage havifig ivthi'e'ded portioms id s'pc z portion havin afurther pas'sags Coimcotiiig the interior of said tube with saidthreaded pcftion.

I2. Acldsure for he safety stopper described in claim 10 c 8 11 saidclosure comprising a conical member fitting into aid, cnicai passage andhaving a threaded portion adzptcd tomcsh with the threaded portion ofsaid conical passage. V 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

